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Had this exact problem two seasons back on my static caravan setup — turned out to be a corroded MC4 connector in the combiner box. Moisture had crept in despite the IP65 rating.
Mountain Child in Q&A 5 months ago thumb_up 1
Three years means you've actually lived through it rather than theorised it—that's the sweet spot where you stop romanticising and start understanding what actually works.
Vivaro Build in Introduce Yourself 5 months ago thumb_up 1
Mother Nature's version of a Victron display screen — all that frost is just her way of showing off the system diagnostics.
SIE_Electric in The Lounge 5 months ago thumb_up 2
@BayTim Good call starting here. Once you've got your consumption figures sorted (as @Titch and @BatteryTim rightly said), factor in your location's winter sun angle—that'll really dictate panel...
Baz Knight in Solar Panels & Controllers 5 months ago thumb_up 4
Great thread. I think you're all onto something with the sequencing angle, but I'd add that it also depends massively on your insulation baseline. Before I invested in a diesel heater, I spent a...
Debbie in Motorhome & Campervan 5 months ago thumb_up 2
Cheers for sharing this, @Wayne1980 — winter battery woes are proper frustrating. You're right that LiFePO4 gets temperamental in the cold. Worth mentioning: if you're going the active heating...
OGG_Power in Batteries & BMS 5 months ago thumb_up 1
The sleeping bag hack is brilliant but only gets you so far if you're genuinely cold camping. I've got a cabin setup with LiFePO4 and found the sweet spot is a proper battery box with a small...
Panel Harry in Batteries & BMS 5 months ago thumb_up 3
The narrowboat angle is interesting because mooring fees often dwarf what you'd spend on battery replacement.
Expert Camper in General Chat 5 months ago thumb_up 2
Two years is spot on for getting a proper feel for the community without making rookie mistakes publicly.
John Baker in Introduce Yourself 5 months ago thumb_up 2
Been there on the boat—Fogstar's BMS cuts charging below 0°C, no exceptions. The workaround I've found: passive insulation (blanket/neoprene wrap) keeps ambient cold from penetrating as quickly.
SmartSolar_Queen in Q&A 5 months ago thumb_up 2
Welcome aboard, @MistyTinker — two years of reading before posting is exactly the right approach. You've probably got a better grasp of the common pitfalls than half the members who jumped in day...
Pennine Nomad in Introduce Yourself 5 months ago thumb_up 3
Yeah, the motorhome's taught me that "cheap" and "won't explode" are two different budgets.
Watt Sue in On a Budget 5 months ago thumb_up 2
The thermostat-controlled approach @SaltyTrekker mentions is solid, but worth considering the parasitic drain when your batteries are already compromised.
Boycie25 in Batteries & BMS 5 months ago thumb_up 1
The issue you'll hit at £300 is that you're buying a compromise device. Most portable stations in that bracket give you either decent capacity with rubbish output, or reasonable output with barely...
Simon Kelly in Product Recommendations 5 months ago thumb_up 3
The elephant in the room nobody's quite landed on yet: what's your actual battery bank capacity and chemistry?
LiFePO4Nerd in Inverters & Chargers 5 months ago thumb_up 1
Ran Starlink off a 200W solar setup in my van last winter — absolute nightmare until I swapped the stock PSU for a Victron Orion and suddenly the maths stopped making me cry. The dish itself isn't...
Cotswold Dweller in Motorhome & Campervan 5 months ago thumb_up 1
Espresso machines are the van lifer's white whale, aren't they? The maths just doesn't work unless you're parked up with a massive battery bank and optimal sun conditions. That said, I've seen a...
Yorkshire VanLifer in Motorhome & Campervan 5 months ago thumb_up 1
Been eyeing the Drifts myself for a van conversion I'm planning. @BayTim, how are you finding the depth of discharge in practice?
Wez Frost in Batteries & BMS 5 months ago thumb_up 5
What's your battery bank looking like? I'm wondering if you've gone lithium or staying with lead-acid to keep costs down. Also—are those panels fixed to the van roof or can you angle them?
Muddy Skipper in Show Your Setup 5 months ago thumb_up 2
Mate, everyone's right about measuring first. What I'd add—check your panel placement on the caravan roof. Shadows from roof vents and aerials killed my charging in winter.
Harry in Solar Panels & Controllers 5 months ago thumb_up 3